What business would you like to see open downtown? / LJWorld.com

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Asked at Massachusetts Street on August 19, 2011

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“A place for handcrafts.”

— Chelsea Rezabek, glass blower, Lawrence

“Something to support more people and more than one business.”

— Tyler Truesdell, unemployed, Lawrence

“Another breakfast place.”

— Stephanie Godinez, administrative assistant, Lawrence

“A home brew store.”

— Rico Godinez, Hallmark employee, Lawrence

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jackpot 6 years, 10 months ago

A candy store.

Spangler 6 years, 10 months ago

Victorias' Secret outlet.

HardwoodGoat 6 years, 10 months ago

+1 About time!

Bill Lee 6 years, 10 months ago

Big & tall mens clothing store.

RoeDapple 6 years, 10 months ago

I miss Wilson's Sporting Goods! Nearly everything they sold was firearms/hunting/reloading related. Probably not PC enough for downtown Larry anymore but I would circle the block as many times as necessary to shop there.

RoeDapple 6 years, 10 months ago

T_O_B's 24 hour "Biscuits and Gravy House". Might be a good idea to open it next door to a good cardiologist.

RoeDapple 6 years, 10 months ago

I have several ideas for businesses HollisBrown might open. None legal of course.

RoeDapple 6 years, 10 months ago

Definitely a "Autie for Governor" campaign office.

Flap Doodle 6 years, 10 months ago

Spatula City

ohjayhawk 6 years, 10 months ago

Great... now I'm going to be forced to break out my UHF DVD and watch it this weekend. Thanks, a lot!

Richard Heckler 6 years, 10 months ago

Locals cannot afford the inflated rent and property taxes for very long nor the never ending Chamber/ westside developer promoted killing of downtown aka dumb economics!

A business for which there is demand and would attract evermore foot traffic:

Mo-Kan business "Function Junction" - Who might bring with them cooking classes.. http://www.functionjunction.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/products.main/catID/182/index.htm
SONY Style ( Computers,Cameras and such)
L.L. Bean
Antique Stores = a source for USA made goods and excellent useful gifts
Put Old Navy in the old Allen Press Building with the parking lot
Fill up Borders with an eastside women's only health club and fix the sidewalks on the eastside for healthy walking which is a project the city can afford.

LadyJ 6 years, 10 months ago

L.L. Bean http://www.complaints.com/2009/january/16/L.L._Bean_products_all_made_in_CHINA_200139.htm

LadyJ 6 years, 10 months ago

Should have added that the complaint was about products being made in China.

LadyJ 6 years, 10 months ago

And let's not get into where Old Navy clothes are made. Not something I would think merrill would approve of.

Cait McKnelly 6 years, 10 months ago

I still like the idea of a European style movie house; big comfortable seats and wait staff to bring you real food and drink. Would give new meaning to "Hollywood at Home".

Richard Heckler 6 years, 10 months ago

The movie house sounds very cool BUT would Lawrence support it? Sounds quite like fun.

Kris Adair 6 years, 10 months ago

No, the Varsity is not an Urban Outfitters.

I remember seeing Pulp Fiction there. Awesome night.

Flap Doodle 6 years, 10 months ago

GINO-Mart

lunacydetector 6 years, 10 months ago

all kinds of businesses would be downtown if there weren't so many trees blocking the signage of the store fronts.

such a simple solution to downtown's troubles.

corduroypants 6 years, 10 months ago

I hope you're kidding.

lunacydetector 6 years, 10 months ago

no, i am not joking. the trees block the store front signs. they need to cut them down and plant bushes instead. the city should be going out of their way to promote businesses downtown but the city covers up the store front signage so they can't be seen.

jiminkansas 6 years, 10 months ago

So, you think that all the trees should be taken down so people can see the signs. This is going to bring in more businesses? You have to be kidding, that is just too funny!

RogueThrill 6 years, 10 months ago

Pretty sure it's illegal to sell paraphernalia in Kansas now.

http://www.accesskansas.org/kbi/de/docs/law%20enforcement%20flyer%20for%20drug%20paraphernalia%20law.pdf

Paul Dillman 6 years, 10 months ago

I was surprised to see them for sale at stands at several county fairs I went to this summer. I think they've replaced the cowboy hats with roach clip feathers and the fringed beaded animal print t-shirts of the 80's.

Andrew Michael 6 years, 10 months ago

There isn't enough room on 901 anyway for a drive in... maybe a park somewhere else and walk over w/ your chair, but not a drive in...

labmonkey 6 years, 10 months ago

You guys with the porn stores aren't thinking big enough. What id needs is a porn studio.

labmonkey 6 years, 10 months ago

I mean, think of all the side business it could support... Merrill's Sony station for camera and sound equipment, a good health clinic for the actors to take their required tests, The Mustache Comb Palace, The Kleenex Specialty Store, and of course, a Johnson and Johnson outlet store.

H_Lecter 6 years, 10 months ago

One of the better lists. Half of the people who have their first heart attack have never had any previous symptoms (such as pain when exercising). The onset of symptoms can come on as indigestion or back pain and until people are into a stage of significant distress, they don't realize (or think, this can't happen to ME) what is happening. Then, they are afraid to call 911 for early symptoms because they think there's always a chance that it will go away or surely it is something they ate or perhaps the Flu.

325 mg. of uncoated Aspirin and 911

Flap Doodle 6 years, 10 months ago

House of 1001 Vodkas

looza 6 years, 10 months ago

topless donut shop or a baseball card store.

pizzapete 6 years, 10 months ago

More stores selling beer, pizza, flip flops, and KU t-shirts.

Cait McKnelly 6 years, 10 months ago

You need a shop to show you how to wear knitted scarves?

CHKNLTL 6 years, 10 months ago

JWL Brewery Supply just opened at Orchards Corner Mall on Bob Billings last month. He has all your home brewing supplies. Nice guy. A Handcrafts store just opened this summer in Orchards Corner Mall on Kasold. Run by family, they offer paint it yourself ceramics, fused glass and other projects. There's two down, y'all! just leave downtown!

mae 6 years, 10 months ago

Replace mcdonalds with a burrito king open all night.

RogueThrill 6 years, 10 months ago

You should go to the walk up window of Burrito King some time and tell me if you really want to eat there. I used to be a huge fan of their burritos and chorizo tacos, but that place is really a filth hole now. Everything is covered in grime and there is standing water everywhere.

mae 6 years, 10 months ago

Replace mcdonalds with a burrito king open all night.

somedude20 6 years, 10 months ago

Indoor shooting range with a twist, naked chicks dancing on poles while you play with your gun and bullets! The smell of sex, gunpowder and lube (for guns and girls) also needs to have a buffet.

I think Hollis should buy up that "Herds" place next to Brothers and run it. Hollis's Herbs you can find the next K2 and bath salts kid maybe sell some shine and always quick with a joke or to light up your smoke

mae 6 years, 10 months ago

Really, the solution is simple. Change store hours so drunk people can buy stuff. Make it similar to the plaza and westports. Don't allow rich, nostalgic old residents to try to run it, let corporate america run it. It would be a thriving date spot if it there was anything cool there.

Sigmund 6 years, 10 months ago

A really good Italian restaurant would be great!

jonas_opines 6 years, 10 months ago

Somewhere that Chelsea can buy some clothes. She probably gets lots of attention walking around naked like that!

Paul Dillman 6 years, 10 months ago

All you really need is a cute necklace and some really good chapstick!

RogueThrill 6 years, 10 months ago

I would like to see Soap Momma open back up. Their home made soaps were the best ever and I enjoyed talking to the owner about tube amps.

Richard Payton 6 years, 10 months ago

Mae said make it similar to westport and the plaza. Really?? I guess your in favor of the curfew Sly James and the city council just recommended for entertainment districts in the metro. Mae would recommend busing kids in and giving them guns just like the plaza.

gphawk89 6 years, 10 months ago

Yeah, I'm not sure about the connection between Westport/Plaza and staying open late so drunks can buy things. Westport does stay open late, but doesn't sell much besides food and drinks. The Plaza doesn't stay open that late, probably because most of the business there are not the type that would welcome drunks. Maybe something like the Plaza of 20-30 years ago would be nice. But not today's Plaza. Used to be a fun place to go day (shopping) or night (eating). Not so much any more.